Section-insulator and hand-switch



N. K. BOWMAN. SECTION msumoa AND HAND SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. l9l 8.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented July 15, 1919.

N. K. BOWMAN.

SECTION INSULATOR AND HAND SWITCH. APPLICATlON FILED APR.29. l9lB.

Patented July 15, 1919,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- N. K. BOWMAN.

SECTION INSULATOR AND HAND SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29. mu.

1 ,309, 7 1 7 Patented July 15, 1919.

M fiw affable RAP C0" WASHINGTON, I). C

NEWTON K. BOWMAN, 0F CANTON, OHIO.

SECTION-INSULATOR AND HAN D-SWITCH.

Application filed April 29, 1918.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, N nw'roN K. BOWMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in, Election -Insulators and I-IandSwitches, of which the-following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved mine section insulator and hand switch of the general type exemplified in Patent No. 1,235,763, issued to me August 7, 1917.

The invention has as its primary object to provide a construction wherein fusing of the switch blades by arcing of the current when the switch is opened, will be eliminated.

The invention has as a further object in this connection to provide a construction wherein a carbon contact will be mounted to travel with the movable switch blades and adapted to cooperate with a fixed carbon contact and wherein when the switch is opened, the movable switch blades will shift out of contact with the fixed switch blades before separation of the said carbon contacts so that the final break in the flow of current will occur between the said carbon contacts and fusing of the switch blades thus prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein spring plates will be employed for yieldably urging the movable switch blades to cooperate with the fixed switch blades and wherein the fixed carbon contact will be mounted upon one of said blades and will thus be yieldably supported to cooperate with the movable carbon contact.

And the invention has as a still further object to provide an arrangement wherein the movable switch blades will be mounted upon a suitable carriage therefor operable for opening and closing the switch and wherein the said carriage will be so constructed that it may be reversed for use upon an insulator either at the right or left side of a trolley wire.

Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds. In the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the sc veral views: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919. Serial No. 231,527.

proved insulator closed,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and,looking in the direction of the arrows, this view particularly showing the mounting of the fixed carbon contact of the switch,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating the manner in which the carbon contacts are mounted to break after the separation of the fixed and movable switch blades of the switch,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4i--ii of Fig. I, particularly showing the mounting of one of the spring plates employed to tension the movable switch blades.

Fig. 5 is a fragn'ientary perspective View showing the movable switch blade carriage in detail, and

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the insulator showing the switch thereof open.

In carrying out the invention my improved device is formed with a body bar or section 10 of suitable insulating material and mounted upon opposite ends of this bar are splice sleeves 11 snugly receiving the ends of the bar and connected therewith by a plurality of rivets or other suitable fastening devices. At their outer extremities these sleeves are cut away upon their upper sides to define substantially U-sha ped trolley wire receiving portions 12 upon the upper edges of which are formed upstanding cars 13 receiving suitable pivot pins upon which are mounted to swing clamping dogs ll of approved type, those shown in the present instance being similar to the clamping dogs disclosed in my prior patent referred to. These dogs are adapted to engage the ends of a trolley wire received within the portions 12 of the splice sleeves foinfirmly connecting the wire to the insulator, and in this connec tion it is to be noted that the bottom walls of the said trolley wire receiving portions provide showing the switch thereof are formed at the ends thereof to a smooth joint at the junction of the wire with the said portions sothat a trolley wheel may readily pass along the wire to cross the body bar 10. Projerting laterally 'trom the inner sides of the splice sleeves adjacent their upper extremities, are oppositely disposed and inwardly directed fixed switch blades or plates 15 andformed on the upper ends of the said sleeves are thickened seats 16. Supported from these seats to project over the fixed switch blades, is a laterally directed switch carriage supporting frame. This frame includes parallel side bars 17 and 18 respectively joined at their outer ends by a transverse connecting bar 19 secured at one end to the bar 17 by a bolt or other suit able fastening device 20 and at its opposite end to the bar 18 by spaced bolts or other suitable fastening devices 21. It is now to be noted that the side bar 18 is somewhat thicker than the side bar 17 and is rested directly upon the seat 1 6 of the adjacent splice sleeve 11 to be secured to the said seat by spaced machine bolts or other suitable fastening devices 22. Restedat its inner end upon the seat 16 of the other splice sleeve to extend beneath the side bar 17 of the frame in spaced relation thereto, is a spring tensioning plate 23 between which and the said side bar are interposed spacer plates 24 supporting the side bar 17 with its upper face disposed flush with the upper face of the side bar 18. Fitted through the inner end of the side bar 17, through the spacer plates 24 and the inner end of the spring plate 23, to be threaded into the seat of the said splice sleeve, are spaced machine bolts or other suitable fastening devices 25 securing the parts together. The side bar 18 of the frame is constructed of suitable insulating material and' formed in the inner extremity of this bar is a longitudinally extending slot or opening 26. Secured by the bolts 22 at the inner end of the said side-bar is a spring ten-sioning plate 27 which is of substantially T-shape to project at its free extremity over the said slot and mounted upon the said extremity of the plate within the slot is a fixed carbon contact 28 riveted or otherwise secured to the plate.

Mounted to reciprocate upon the switch carriage supporting frame is a switch carriage shown in detail in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings. This switch carriage includes a body 29 terminating at its extremities in movable switch blades or plates 30. These blades are somewhat reduced in thickness and, adjacent their outer extremities, are formed upon the upper sides thereof with flanges 31 defining a socket 32 upon one of the blades and a similar socket 33 upon the other of the blades. Projecting laterally from the body at a point substantially midway of its ends is a double faced rack bar or shank 34. The carriage thus formed is mounted to travel beneath the side bars 17 and 18 of the supporting frame therefor one end of the body 29 of the carriage engaging beneath the tensioning spring 23 and the other end thereof engaging directly with the side bar 18. Slidably connecting the carriage with the side bars are clips 35 screwed or otherwise secured to the extremities of the carriage body and engaging over the said side bars at their inner edges. Mounted within v the stub arm.

the socket 32 uponthe adjacent blade 30 of the carriage is a movable carbon contact 36 40 to support the bridge contact upon the carriage. As particularly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the bridge contact is formed to fit between the inner ends of the splice sleeves 11 overlying the lower edge of the body bar 10 and is formed with a rounded outer face to provide a continuous bearing surface for the passage of a trolley wheel thereover, the bridge contact thus forming a continuation of the bearing surface for the trolley wheel provided by the lower edges of the splice sleeves. Mounted upon the lower side of the connecting bar 19 of the supporting frame for the switch carriage is a keeper 41 secured at its inner extremity by the bolts 21 at one end of said bar as well as by a machine bolt or other fastening device 42. Intermediate of its ends this keeper is offset to provide a shoulder 43 from which shoulder the said keeper extends in spaced parallel relationto the adjacent extremity of the bar 19 and at its outer end receives the bolt 20 therethrough. Asbest shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings,'the shank 34 of the switch carriage extends freely through this keeper to abut the shoulder 43 thereof and pivotally mounted upon the bolt 20 beneath the keeper is a toothed segment 44 adapted to cooperate with the said shank.

At its outer end this segment is formed witha radial stub arm 45 into which is threaded a screw bolt 46 extendin ax ally from the inner end of a hollow preferably wooden handle 47 and connecting the handle'with Fitted around the said bolt and interposed between the handle and the stub arm is a circular shield 48 which may be formed of any suitable insulating material. Secured at its inner end by the bolt 20 upon the carriage frame is a laterally di rected slotted bar 49 adapted to receive a roof hanger for steadying the device in use and assisting in supporting the said device in its active position.

As will now be clear, the, handle 47 may be operated for swinging the toothed segment 44 and consequently reciprocating the switch carriage upon the supporting frame therefor. In this connection it will be noted that the tensioning plate 23 elongated to extend throughout the major portion of the length of the side bar 17 ofthe frame, so that this plate will cooperate with the body of the switch carriage to provide a bearing surface for the adjacent end thereof beneath the said side bar when the carriage is thus reciprocated. Upon the inward movement of the carriage the II'lOVtLblO switch blades 30 will thus be directed over the fixed switch blades 15 of the splice sleeves into engagement therewith while the carbon contact 36 upon the carriage will be moved to engage the fixed carbon contact 38 therebeneath. Accordingly, the switch will be closed and particular attention is directed to the fact that when the switch is so closed, one of the switch blades 30 will bear between the adjacent blade 15 and the tensioning plate 23 to flex this tensioning plate up wardly while the other switch blade 30 will engage the opposite fixed switch blade 15 and support the carbon contact 36 to bear beneath the carbon contact 38 and flex the tensioning plate 27 upwardly. These tensioning plates will, therefore, serve to yieldably hold the movable switch blades 30 in firm electrical contact with the fixed switch blades while, at thesame time, the plate 27 will also act to yieldably hold the carbon contact 38 in firm engagement with the carbon contact 36. Uninterrupted flow of current through the switch when closed, will thus be assured. Coincident with the closing of the switch, the bridge contact 37 will be moved to engage between the inner ends of the splice sleeves abutting with the body bar 10 so that a trolley wheel may freely travel be tween the said sleeves.

Assuming now that the switch is closed,

as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and it is desired to open the switch, the handle 17 is properly swung to shift the switch carriage outwardly upon the supporting frame. As the carriagemoves outwardly, it will be seen, upon an inspection of Fig. 6, that the bridge contact 37 will move out of engagement with the inner ends of the splice sleeves while the switch blades 30 still remain in contact with the fixed blades 15. Consequently, no arcing of the current will occur between the bridge contact and the said sleeves. As the outward movement of the switch carriage is continued, the switch blades 30 will then move out of engagement with the fixed blades 15 while the carbon contacts 28 and 36 will, as particularly shown in Fig. 3, still remain in engagement with each other. Current will thus be per mitted to flow between the splice sleeves through the body of the carriage and through these carbon contacts so that upon separation of the movable and fixed switch blades no arcing of the current will occur therebetween. Continued outward movement of the switch carriage will, of course, finally break the flow of current between the carbon contacts and, owing to the nature of i these contacts, the fusing thereof will be inappreciable. I, therefore, provide an arrangcn'ient wherein burning or fusing of the movable and fixed switch blades as well as the bridge contact of the switch will be prevented and the durability of the structure thus insured. Moreover, the carbon contacts employed to make the final break in the How of current through the switch are detachably mounted in position so that should it become necessary, these contacts may be renewed.

In use my improved insulator will be constructed in both right and left hand types, respectively adapted to project at the right and left hand sides of a trolley wire... I have accordingly formed the switch carriage of the device so that it may be reversed for use either upon a right or left hand insulator. In the drawings I have shown a. left hand insulator. Accordingly, the carbon contact 36 is mounted within the socket of the switch carriage so that it may cooperate with the fixed carbon contact 28. llowever, by shifting the carbon contact switch carriage, the carriage may then be reversed and mounted upon a right hand insulator when the said carbon contact 36 will be arranged to cooperate with the fixed carbon contact of such insulator while the toothed segment thereof will engage the teeth of the shank of the carriage at the edge thereof opposite to that engaged upon the left hand insulator, as shown in the draw ings. For this reason, the carriage shank is formed with teeth along its opposite longitudinal edges while the body of the carriage is provided at its ends with the sockets 32 and Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A section insulator and switch including companion splice sleeves, means connecting the sleeves but insulating the said sleeves with respect to each other, a frame projecting from the said sleeves, a switch carriage reciprocablc upon the frame and including switch blades, switch blades carried by the splice sleeves, and means for reciprocating the carriage to shift the switch blades thereon into or out of engagement with the switch blades of the said sleeves.

2. A section insulator and switch including companion splice sleeves, means connecting the sleeves but insulating the said sleeves with respect to each other, fixed rigid switch blades carried by the sleeves, a frame projecting from the sleeves, a switch carriage IGClPlOCtIblO upon the said frame and including switch blades adaptcrhfor engagement with the fixed switch blades, means for reciprocating the carriage upon the frame, and means for yieldably urging the switch blades of the carriage to cooperate with the fixed switch blades of the sleeves.

36 to the socket 33 of the the said carriage upon the frame, and co,

acting nonfusible contacts carried by the frame and carriage respectively and mounted. to break contact subsequent to the breakin of contact between the switch blades of uf carriage and the fixed switch blades upon the opening of the switch.

4. A section insulator and switch including companion splice sleeves, means connecting the said sleeves but insulating the sleeves with respect to each other, fixed switch blades carried by the said sleeves, a frame projecting from the sleeves, a switch c arriage reciprocable upon the frame and including switch blades adapted to cooperate with the fixed switch blades, means for reciprocating the carriage upon the frame, yieldable means for urging the switch blades of the carriage to engage the fixed switch blades, a nonfusible contact mounted on the carriage, and a nonfusible contact carried by the said yieldable means and adapted to cooperate withthe first contact, the

said nonfusible contacts being mounted to break circuit subsequent to the breaking of contactbetween the switch blades of the carriage and the fixed switch blades upon the opening of the switch.

5. A section insulator and switch including companion splice sleeves, means connecting the said sleeves but insulating the sleeves with respect to each other, fixed switch blades carried by the said sleeves, a frame projecting from the sleeves, a switch carriage reciprocable upon the frame and including switch blades adapted to cooperate with the fixed switch blades, means for reciprocating the carriage upon the frame, resilient tensioning plates for urging the switch blades of the carriage to cooperate with the fixed switch blades, a nonfusible contact mounted on the carriage, and a nonfusible contact mounted upon One of said plates and adapted to cooperate with the first contact, the said nonfusible contacts being mounted to break circuit subsequent to the breaking of contact between the switch blades of the carriage and the fixed switch blades upon the opening of the switch.

6. A section insulator and switch including companion splice sleeves, means connecting the said sleeves but insulating the said sleeves with respect to each other, fixed switch blades carried by the sleeves, a frame projecting from the sleeves and including side bars, a carriage supported by said bars to reciprocate upon the frame and including switch blades adapted to cooperate with the fixed switch blades, means mounted upon the frame for reciprocating the carriage, and tensioning plates projecting longitudinally of the said side bars and, adapted to operatively cooperate with the switch blades of the carriage for urging the said carriage switch blades into contact with the fixed switch blades upon the closing of the switch.

7 A section insulator and switch including companion splice sleeves, means connecting the said sleeves but insulating the said sleeves with respect to each other, fixed switch blades carried by the sleeves, a frame projecting from the sleeves and including side bars, a carriage supported by said bars to reciprocate upon the frame and including switch blades adapted to cooperate with the fixed switch blades, means mounted upon the frame for reciprocating the carriage, tensioning plates projecting longitudinally of the said side bars and adapted to operatively cooperate with the switch blade of the carriage for urging the said carriage switch blades into contact with the fixed switch blades upon the closing of the switch, one of said side bars being formed with an opening, a nonfusible contact carried by one of the switch blades of the carriage, and a non fusible contact mounted upon one of said plates within the said opening and adapted to cooperate with the said first mentioned contact, the said contacts being arranged to break circuit subsequent to the breaking of contact between the switch blades of the carriage and the fixed switch blades.

8. A section insulator and switch including companion splice sleeves, means connecting the sleeves but insulating said sleeves with respect to each other, fixed switch blades mounted upon the said sleeves, a frame projecting from the said sleeves and including side bars, a switch carriage supported by the said bars to reciprocate upon the frame and including switch blades adapted to engage the fixed switch blades, one of the said side bars being provided with an opening, a plate projecting over the said opening, a nonfusible contact supported by the plate within the openin a nonfusible contact mounted upon the carriage, the said contacts being arranged to break circuit subsequent to the breaking of contact between the switch blades of the carriage and the fixed switch blades, and means for reciprocating the carriage upon the said frame.

9. A section insulator and switch including companion splice sleeves, means connecting the sleeves but insulating said sleeves with respect to each other, fixed switch blades carried by the sleeves, a frame projecting from the sleeves and including side bars and an end bar, switch carriage sup ported by said side bars to reciprocate upon the frame and including a body terminating at its extremities in switch blades adapted to engage the fixed switch blades, and a shank projecting from the body, and means mounted upon the frame to cooperate with the said shank for reciprocating the switch carriage.

10. A section insulator and switch including companion splice sleeves, means connecting the sleeves but insulating said sleeves with respect to each other, fixed switch blades carried by the sleeves, a frame projecting from the sleeves and including side bars and an end bar, a switch carriage supported by said side bars to reciprocate upon the frame and including a body terminating at its extremities in switch blades adapted to engage the fixed switch blades, and a shank pro ecting from the body and provided with teeth, and a toothed segment pivoted upon the frame to engage the teeth of the shank for reciprocating the switch carriage.

11. A section insulator and switch including a frame, fixed switch blades connected with the frame, a switch carriage shiftable upon the frame and including switch blades adapted to cooperate with the fixed switch blades, said carriage including a shank, a nonfusible contact carried by the frame, a non-fusible contact mounted adjacent one end of the carriage and arranged to break contact with said first mentioned non-fusible contact subsequent to the breaking of contact between the switch blades of the carriage and the fixed switch blades upon the opening of the switch, and means mounted upon the frame and engaging the shank of the carriage at one side thereof for shifting the carriage, said shank being formed to cooperate with said last mentioned means at its opposite side and the non-fusible contact of the switch carriage being shiftable to a position adjacent the opposite end of said carriage whereby the carriage may be employed upon either a right or left hand insulator.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

NEWTON K. BOWMAN. [1,. s.]

(topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, .D. C. 

